Multifunctional seating unit

ABSTRACT

A multifunctional seating unit includes a frame constituted by a pair of supports which are crossed in an X-like arrangement, each one of the supports defining a pair of first and second legs, pivoted in an X-like arrangement, and a first plate and a second plate, which are associated rotatably with a first armrest and a second armrest. The frame includes a parallelogram mechanism adapted to allow a partial raising/lowering and a partial narrowing/widening of the first and second armrests and of a seat which constitute the seating unit and a partial narrowing/widening of the pair of first and second legs. The seating unit includes a back composed of a first case and a second case which are lateral and collapsible onto a fixed central support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a multifunctional seating unit.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays armchairs are known which are constituted by low and wide sitting portions, with the back slightly inclined and with a sitting portion and armrests that present an appropriate space for supporting the limbs, which are afforded comfortable and outstretched support.

Armchairs are also known which comprise means adapted to allow the movement of the back and/or of the sitting portion and/or of a footrest and/or of the armrests in order to allow the user to assume a reclined, more comfortable position.

Chairs are further known which are constituted by a high and narrow seat in order to arrange the trunk of the user in an erect position in front of a dining table or a desk, with the legs bent substantially at a right angle in order to support the trunk in a vertical position without effort.

Folding chairs are also known which comprise means adapted to allow the movement of the legs, of the sitting portion and/or of the back in order to position them in a compact position and optionally stack two or more of such chairs on each other, thus reducing the space occupied to the minimum.

Sofas are further known which comprise means adapted to allow the movement of the armrests and/or of the sitting portions and/or of the back in order to enable it to assume either a sofa configuration or a bed configuration.

Such different shape structures that can be assumed by armchairs, chairs or sofas are sought after in order to best optimize the increasingly reduced spaces of modern dwellings.

Other uses or arrangements that such armchairs or chairs or sofas can assume are not known.

SUMMARY

The aim of the present disclosure is to devise a seating unit that makes it possible, while saving space, to rapidly and easily take advantage of different types of use.

Within this aim, the present disclosure obtains a seating unit that is structurally simple, is simple to activate, achieves a pleasing aesthetic result, is low cost, and can be provided with the usual conventional systems.

This aim and this and other advantages which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by providing a multifunctional seating unit, comprising a frame constituted by a pair of supports which are crossed in an X-like arrangement, characterized in that each one of said supports defines a pair of first and second legs, pivoted in an X-like arrangement, and a first plate and a second plate, which are associated rotatably with a first armrest and a second armrest, said frame comprising a parallelogram mechanism adapted to allow the partial raising/lowering and the partial narrowing/widening of said first and second armrests and of a seat which constitute said seating unit and the partial narrowing/widening of said pair of first and second legs, said seating unit comprising a back composed of a first case and a second case which are lateral and collapsible onto a fixed central support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the disclosure will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment thereof, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front of the seating unit lowered and widened;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the seating unit lowered and widened;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the seating unit lowered and widened, without cushions and back;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the rear of the seating unit lowered and widened;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the front of the seating unit raised and narrowed;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the seating unit raised and narrowed;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the seating unit raised and narrowed, without cushions and back; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the rear of the seating unit raised and narrowed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated below, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other exemplary embodiments.

With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a multifunctional seating unit which comprises a frame 2 constituted by a pair of supports 3 a, 3 b which are crossed in an X-like arrangement.

The pair of supports 3 a, 3 b defines a pair of first and second legs 4 a, 4 b, 5 a, 5 b, which are pivoted in an X-like arrangement and are associated at one end in an upper region with a first plate 6 and with a second plate 7, which are arranged mutually opposite and have a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front.

Each one of such first and second plates 6, 7 comprises a longer parallel side 8 a, 8 b, which is directed toward the ground, and a shorter parallel side 9 a, 9 b, which is parallel to the preceding one and is directed in the opposite direction.

The longer parallel sides 8 a, 8 b are blended with the shorter parallel sides 9 a, 9 b by first inclined sides 10 a, 10 b, which meet at the pivoting point 11 of the first and second legs 4 a, 4 b, 5 a, 5 b, and by second sides 12 a, 12 b which are inclined and directed toward the outside of the seating unit 1 and have a lower inclination with respect to the inclination of the first sides 10 a, 10 b.

In the condition in which the seating unit 1 is lowered and widened, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, so as to define an armchair 13, the first sides 10 a, 10 b assume a position such that a first V-shaped split 14 is formed between them.

The first ends of a first armrest 16 and a second armrest 17 are rotatably associated, by way of first sliding or guiding bars 15 a, 15 b that are arranged longitudinally with respect to the seating unit 1, in the meeting point between the second sides 12 a, 12 b and the longer parallel sides 8 a, 8 b.

In the embodiment shown, by way of non-limiting example, second bars 19 a, 19 b for anchoring the first ends 20 a, 20 b of adapted straps 21 a, 21 b, which are subsequently guided in the direction of the ground on the first bars 15 a, 15 b, are stably positioned, longitudinally with respect to the seating unit 1, at the second ends 18 a, 18 b, which are free, of the first and second armrests 16, 17.

Third bars 22 a, 22 b, for the sliding or guiding of the straps 21 a, 21 b, which are arranged above the third bars 22 a, 22 b, are positioned at the meeting point between the second sides 12 a, 12 b and the shorter parallel sides 9 a, 9 b, longitudinally with respect to the seating unit 1.

The third bars 22 a, 22 b lie, in every condition of motion of the seating unit 1, on a plane that lies above the plane on which the first bars 15 a, 15 b lie, or at the most on the same plane.

The second ends 23 a, 23 b of the straps 21 a, 21 b are associated, longitudinally with respect to the seating unit 1, with fourth sliding or guiding bars 24 a, 24 b, which are coupled between the first and second legs 4 a, 4 b, 5 a, 5 b of the seating unit 1, in a region that is adjacent to the pivoting point 11 of the supports 3 a, 3 b crossed in an X-like arrangement.

The fourth bars 24 a, 24 b lie, in every condition of motion of the seating unit 1, on a plane that lies below the plane on which the first bars 15 a, 15 b lie, and in a region that is closer to the pivoting point 11 with respect to the third bars 22 a, 22 b.

The seating unit 1 comprises a back 25 composed of a first case 26 a and a second case 26 b which are lateral and collapsible onto a fixed central support 27.

Each one of the first and second cases 26 a, 26 b comprises a lower end face 28 a, 28 b, which lies above the first leg 4 b and the second leg 5 b arranged to the rear of the seating unit 1, a third outer side 29 a, 29 b, stably connected respectively to the first armrest 16 and the second armrest 17, a fourth inner side 30 a, 30 b, and an upper end face 31 a, 31 b.

In the condition in which the seating unit 1 is lowered and widened, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, so as to define the armchair 13, the fourth sides 30 a, 30 b assume a position such that a second V-shaped split 32, concealed by the central support 27, is formed between them.

The fixed central support 27 is stably connected by way of elastic means to the first case 26 a and to the second case 26 b.

The multifunctional seating unit 1 comprises means for limiting, blocking, such as the first V-shaped split 14, and for assisting, such as at least one spring, the rotation of the first and second armrests 16, 17 in the condition in which the seating unit 1 is raised and narrowed, illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, so as to define a chair 33.

To complete the seating unit 1, adapted cushions 34 can be arranged on the sitting portion 35, at the back and laterally on the armrests.

In the condition in which the seating unit 1 is lowered and widened, so as to define the armchair 13, the first plate 6 and the second plate 7 lie on the same horizontal plane and between them is the first V-shaped split 14, the first armrest 16 and the second armrest 17 are inclined outward, and between the first case 26 a and the second case 26 b of the back 25 is the second V-shaped split 32 which exposes the central support 27 which acts as a back 25.

The transition from the condition in which the seating unit 1 is lowered and widened to the condition in which the seating unit 1 is raised and narrowed, so as to define a chair 33, occurs by way of the rotation of the first armrest 16 and the second armrest 17 which tension the straps 21 a, 21 b which, by virtue of the adapted guides on the first and third bars 15 a, 15 b, 22 a, 22 b, force the rotation of the pair of first and second legs 4 a, 4 b, 5 a, 5 b and of the first and second plates 6, 7 which constitute the supports 3 a, 3 b which are crossed in an X-like arrangement.

In the condition in which the seating unit 1 is raised and narrowed, illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, so as to define a chair 33, the first plate 6 and the second plate 7 are inclined and assume, together with the pair of first and second legs, a structure shaped like an X when viewed from the front, and the first sides 10 a, 10 b of the first and second plates 6, 7 are placed in mutual contact so as to close the first V-shaped split 14 which thus limits the rotation that can be imparted to the supports 3 a, 3 b crossed in an X-like arrangement.

The first armrest 16 and the second armrest 17 are arranged substantially mutually parallel, and the fourth sides 30 a, 30 b of the first case 26 a and the second case 26 b of the back are placed in mutual contact.

Thus it has been found that the disclosure fully achieves the intended aims and advantages, a seating unit 1 having been obtained that makes it possible, while saving space, to rapidly and easily take advantage of different types of use, in particular a condition in which the seating unit 1 is lowered and widened, so as to define the armchair 13, and a condition in which it is raised and narrowed, so as to define a chair 33.

It has therefore been found that the seating unit 1 optimizes space in the interior environments of dwellings.

It has further been found that the seating unit 1 is structurally simple, is simple to activate, since with a single movement the simple mechanism is activated without the need for adding parts and assembly operations in order to carry out the conversion, while keeping the ergonomic characteristics of an armchair and of a chair unaltered.

Finally it has been found that the disclosure makes it possible to achieve a pleasing aesthetic result, is low cost, and can be provided with the usual conventional systems.

The disclosure is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations. Naturally the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the disclosure may be more relevant according to specific requirements.

The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102016000022171 (UA2016A001304) from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A multifunctional seating unit, comprising a frame constituted by a pair of supports crossed in an X-like arrangement, wherein each one of said supports defines a pair of first and second legs, pivoted in an X-like arrangement, and a first plate and a second plate, which are associated rotatably with a first armrest and a second armrest, said frame comprising a parallelogram mechanism adapted to allow a partial raising/lowering and a partial narrowing/widening of said first and second armrests and of a seat which constitute said seating unit and a partial narrowing/widening of said pair of first and second legs, said seating unit comprising a back composed of a first case and a second case which are lateral and collapsible onto a fixed central support.
 11. The seating unit according to claim 10, wherein said pair of first and second legs is associated in an upper region, at one end, with said first and second plates, which are arranged mutually opposite and have a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, each one of said first and second plates comprising a longer parallel side, which is directed toward the ground, and a shorter parallel side, which is parallel to the longer parallel side and is directed in the opposite direction, said longer parallel sides being blended with said shorter parallel sides by first inclined sides, which meet at the pivoting point of said first and second legs, and by second sides which are inclined and directed toward the outside of said seating unit and have a lower inclination with respect to the inclination of said first side.
 12. The seating unit according to claim 11, wherein in a condition in which the seating unit is lowered and widened, so as to define an armchair, said first sides assume a position such that a first V-shaped split is formed between them, defining a means adapted to limit/block the movement of said supports.
 13. The seating unit according to claim 11, wherein first ends of said first and second armrests are rotatably associated, by way of first sliding or guiding bars that are arranged longitudinally with respect to said seating unit, in a meeting point between said second sides and said longer parallel sides.
 14. The seating unit according to claim 13, wherein second bars for anchoring first ends of straps, which are subsequently guided in a direction of the ground on said first sliding or guiding bars, are stably positioned, longitudinally with respect to said seating unit, at the second ends, which are free, of said first and second armrests.
 15. The seating unit according to claim 14, wherein third bars, for the sliding or guiding of said straps, which are arranged above said third bars, are positioned at the meeting point between said second sides and said shorter parallel sides, longitudinally with respect to said seating unit, said third bars lying, in every condition of motion of said seating unit, on a plane that lies above a plane on which said first bars lie, or at the most on a same plane.
 16. The seating unit according to claim 14, wherein second ends of said straps are associated, longitudinally with respect to said seating unit, with fourth sliding or guiding bars, which are coupled between said first and second legs of said seating unit, in a region that is adjacent to said pivoting point of said supports crossed in an X-like arrangement, said fourth bars lying, in every condition of motion of said seating unit, on a plane that lies below the plane on which said first bars lie, and in a region that is closer to said pivoting point with respect to said third bars.
 17. The seating unit according to claim 10, wherein each one of said first and second cases comprises a lower end face, which lies above said first and second legs arranged to the rear of said seating unit, a third outer side, stably connected respectively to said first and second armrests, a fourth inner side, and an upper end face.
 18. The seating unit according to claim 17, wherein in a condition in which the seating unit is lowered and widened, so as to form said armchair, said fourth sides assume a position such that a second V-shaped split, concealed by said central support, is formed between them. 